James meikle



(No Model.)

J. MEIKLB.

APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND BLEAGHING.

Patented July 12, 1887.

wakes M24 N PETERS PhotoL'lthngnphur, Wflhlngion. D, 1

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

JAMES MEIKLE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.'

APPARATUSFOR WASHING AND BLEACHING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,335, dated July 12, 1887.

Application filed October 12,1886. Serial No. 215,986. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concerm Be it known that I, JAMES MEIKLE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, but having declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, residing in Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bleaching and Washing Apparatus, of which the following is a specifica- The object of my invention is to provide apparatus whereby the cleansing and bleaching of cotton and other fibrous and textile fabrics may be effected in a less expensive manner than has hitherto been possible, whereby the result may be produced in a shorter time than hitherto and without injury to the fabric, and whereby larger quantities of goods may be operated upon within the same area.

The essential features of the process of bleaching fabrics as ordinarily conducted at the present time consist, generally, in successive boilings and washings in solutions of lime, in very dilute acid, in a solution of soda-ash, and in solutions of chlorine. During the intervals between these several treatments the fabric is washed many times in water, and a period of not less than from four to eightdays is necessarily occupied in carrying out the whole process. The object of the several different and successive treatments is to entirely remove from the fabric the oils and other extraneous substances which have become incorporated with it during the process of manufacture, and to enable the chlorine, which is the principal bleaching agent, to exert full and equal chemical action upon all parts of the fabric, so as to produce a uniform whiteness of the same in every part.

The essential feature of my present invention consists in exposing the fabric to the action of the bleaching agent or solution in 'such a manner that the foreign substances are not only forced out of the fabric by mechanical action, but also the bleaching-liquid is thereby brought into intimate, rapid, and effectual contact with every portion of it, thereby producing the desired effect with great rapidity, and at the same time without injury to the fabric. This I effect by bringing the cloth or other material to be operated upon into such a position with reference to a series of pipes carrying the bleaching-liquid that the solution may be forced under considerable pressure upon the fabric, while at the same time a series of heaters are made to operate rapidly traneous matters in the most thorough manner. A large quantity of cloth can in this way be operated upon in a short period of time, thus rapidly producing both the cleansing and the bleaching effects.

'I. have ascertained by experiment that in sary in most cases to use successively several solutions, as in the ordinary process of bleaching. A single solution containing the necessary elements for both cleansing and bleaching the fabric has been found generally sufficient to produce the best results.

Several pieces of cloth are taken at a time, and these are first well soaked in a tank containing the same liquor as it is intended to use in the process of bleaching. The ends of the several pieces are then taken together and are drawn out of the tank over rollers in the usual manner, and are then carried into alarge tank, in which the principal part of the process of cleansing and bleaching is effected. This tank contains a series of two or more moving tables operated in the manner of endless belts. The cloth islaid upon the lowest of these tables, spread out to its full width, and is carried slowly along by the movement of the table. The cloth is not laid smoothly upon the table, but is deposited thereon as closely and thickly as possible, which is effected by having the table move more slowly than the cloth as it comes from the rollers after leaving the first tank, so that it lies closely pushed or folded together. While being carried forward by the movement of the table the cleansing and bleaching solution is forced upon it under suitable pressure by means of a series of transverse pipes, which are fed by a pipe extending along the outside of the tank throughout its length. The transverse pipes are perforated, so as to throw the solution upon the material in the form of spray or fine streams. At the same time a series of boaters are caused to operate upon the cloth, and which aid in forcing the solution into the entire mass of upon it in such manner as to separate all eX- bleaching by my process it is wholly unnecessoured in the usual manner.

material, and also in driViug'out the extraneous matter which it contains. From the first or lowest table the material passes by means of suitable rollers to a second table placed above the first, and where the material is subjected to the same action both of the solution and a series of beaters. A third similar table may be added, if necessary, or even more, as the condition of the material may require. From the lasttable the cloth is carried again upward. The ends of the pieces are separated, and are passed between a series of pipes in such a manner as to be subjected separately to the action of the solution.

After leaving the tank in which the operations described have been carried on, the cloth is carried through another tank, which may be made in the same manner as that described, but in which clear water only is used. From the clear-water tank it may be carried through a chlorine-tank, after which it is washed and I have found by experiment that when the cloth has been treated with the cleansing and bleaching solution in the tank containing the heaters and pipes described all the operationsafterward namely, the washing, chlorination, and sour- 1ngmay be effected by the use of cold solutions only. 1

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a form of apparatus suitable for carrying out my invention, A is the tank, and B the cloth as it comes from the first tank in which it is soaked. It first passes between the rollers G, where it is spread out to its full width by means of grooves or corrugations upon the surface of the rollers. The use of grooved rollers for this purpose is described in Letters Patent No. 338,096, issued to me on the 16th day of March, 1886. In the present case, however, I prefer to use rollers with the grooves or corrugations made lengthwise instead of around the rollers. By making them lengthwise the cloth is not only kept to its full width, but may be kept stretched tightly during such part of its progress as may be cloth is crowded or folded closely togetherupon the table. The table is constructed of pieces of strong plank, d, and is of nearly the same width-asthe tank. The pieces (I are joined or hinged together in the usual manner to make a continuous table, passing over the rollers E at each end. The rollers E are preferably constructed of polygonal form, so as to carry the table uniformly across the tank. As the cloth is carried forward by the motion ,of

the table, the cleansingand bleaching solution is forced upon it in a heated condition from the pipes 13, which extend across the tank a short distance above the surface of the cloth. The pipes F are supplied from the pipe F, which'extends along the outside of the tank. A reservoir, boiler, or tank, situated at a suitable height above A, supplies the pipe F with the solution. At'the same time the heaters G G are caused to operate by means of eccentrics H, which are fixed upon the shaft J. Having passed the length of the tank upon the table D, the cloth is carried upward between the rollers G, and again across the similar table,

D, where it is operated upon both by the solution forced from the pipes F F and the heaters G. From the table D it may be carand of course upon the length of the tables.

If the tank is made long, so that the cloth is subjected to the action of the solution and beaters a considerable time upon each, fewer tables will be required. I find that a tank from twenty to thirty feet in length, from six to eight feet deep, and four feet wide is of good practical size. After the last table it is carried over the roller K, where the ends are separated and carried between the series of pipes L, which are supplied by the leadingpipe L, and from which the solution is forced upon and through the cloth more perfectly than when it lay upon the tables. After passing between the several pipes of the series L, the ends of the cloth are again collected at the rollers K and carried through a tankpreferabl y fitted and provided in the same manner as the tank A, but in which clear water only is used. The ordinary course of chlorination and souring may then be followed, and the operation to which the cloth has been subjected in the tank A will enable the subsequent operations to be carried on in a very briefperiod and with the best possible results. It will be seen that by carrying the cloth to the lowest table at first and afterward to those above it the cleansing and bleaching solution is used to the best advantage, the cloth at each stage receiving clean solution, which passes downward and adds to the effect of the solution supplied upon' the lowest table, so that the most important and effective part of the operation of cleans ing and bleaching is done in a single tank. Thus the clean solution from the pipes L at the top, after acting upon the cloth in the manner shown, falls down and aids the work upon the upper beater-table, D, and then in turn falls upon D, and so on until it reaches the bottom. As fast as the solution collects in the tank A, it may be withdrawn in any convenient manner by a pump, or otherwise, through the pipe 0 at the bottom of the tank. The tables D and D are of course made in a very strong manner, so as to withstand the action of the .beaters G, and they are preferably constructed with a bed of iron rods or slats 8, ex-

rollers upon the bottom of the pieces d, which are arranged to roll upon the rods 8.

I I do not limit myself to any particular form of tank or construction of the tables D; nor do I limit myself to any particular method of operating the heaters.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a cleansing and bleaching apparatus, the combination of a tank, one or more moving tables within said tank, a series of pipes for conveying the cleansing or bleaching solution therein, and a series of heaters for operating upon the material while in said tank.

2. In a cleansing and bleaching apparatus, the combination of a tank, a series of rollers for conveying the material to be cleansed or bleached into and out of said tank, one or more moving tables within said tank, upon which the said material is laid, a series of pipes whereby the liquid to be used is thrown upon said material while upon said tables, and a series of heaters for beating said mate: rial while upon said tables.

3. The combination ofa tank, two or more moving tables arranged therein one above the other, a series of pipes extending across said tank and above each of said tables, through which the liquid for cleansing or bleaching is forced upon said material, and a series of pipes extending across said tank above the high est of said tables, between which pipes the separate pieces of material operated upon may he carried.

4. The combination of a tank, a. series of moving tables arranged therein, a series of pipes extending across said tank and above each of said tables, a series of heaters placed above each of said tahles,'and a support for each of said tables, consisting of the rods 8 and s.

5. The combination of thetank A, the tables D and D, the pipes F and F, the heaters G and G, and the pipes L.

6.,The combination ofthetank A,the grooved rollers O, for spreading the material to itsfull width as it enters said tank, the table D, moving at a slower speed than the rollers G, whereby the cloth is pushed or folded together closely upon said table D, the pipes F, and the heaters G.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day of September, A. D. 1886.

JAMES MEIKLE. 

